Pluricious Clothing is a born and raised Southern California clothing line conceived by master-mind and wonder woman, Jessica Morales. Morales currently lives in West Los Angeles, and has B.A. in Psychology from UCLA and is currently a PhD student at the same University. The conception of Pluricious came out of the necessity for unique and creative outfits designed for music festivals, which Morales regularly attends. “My first creation was a piece I wore to the Electric Daisy Carnival. I became motivated to design more pieces, especially for customers, when I realized the lack of options for festive and custom costume wear throughout the year. As I started to create more pieces for friends and even strangers I realized I found a new hobby. It was then that I decided to start my own business and step into the field of fashion.”

The vast majority of costume pieces worn at these Music Festivals all look the same. Morales ran into this problem when she spotted another Festival go-er wearing the same outfit as her. Often, they were a combination of items that were found from online stores, boutiques and other store-bought products.

Even with that collaboration of items, Morales’ outfit was not unique. “Part of attending a music festival is contributing to the overall experience by wearing unique, fun, and festive attire. The difficulty with this is that the limited stores that sell rave wear are expensive and have standard products that are manufactured. Thus, it was often the case that I would buy something and I would run into another person wearing a similar piece. Eventually, I began noticing some other small business options that took a customization approach to rave wear and I grew inspired to begin my own.”

L.A. Arts had a chance to chat with Morales and learn more about her “hobby turned business” Pluricious.

LAarts: What does fashion mean to you?

 Morales: I see fashion as an art form. Therefore, fashion is subjective and a way of self-expression.

LAarts: Your designs are very risqué and sexy … Why’d you decide to design lingerie?

Morales: While my designs could be worn as sexy lingerie, pieces are mostly tailored as fun costume wear for raves, music festivals, Halloween, or any occasion. Pieces range from custom decorative bras to corsets and tutus. My line also caters to little girl’s custom costumes and tutus.

LAarts: How long does it usually take you to construct a piece?

Morales: Each piece is carefully crafted and tailored to the customer’s interest, therefore, the time it takes to construct a piece varies by the order. On average a complete outfit can take from 1 to 5 hours.

LAarts: What’s the general process you go through to design and realize a piece of clothing?

Morales: Each piece is inspired by the customer. The customer has the option of selecting a themes, colors, materials, etc. or they could even send me a picture for inspiration. The customer also has the option of allowing me to surprise them with a piece I find fitting for their style and personality. Once we have decided on something, I go ahead and gather all the materials and begin the creation. Upon completion, I show the customer their custom product and make slight alterations if still desired.

LAarts: How do you select your models?

Morales: Selection of models is based on their professionalism, personality, and overall look. I like models that are enjoyable to work with and that will bring my pieces to life. I also like diversity in my models because beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors.

LAarts: What matters to you most as a fashion designer?

Morales: As a fashion designer access to fabrics and materials is very important. Therefore, living in LA where I have plenty of options for various pieces matters most.

LAarts: Do you prefer sketching designs or actually constructing them?

Morales: Most of my pieces are made on the spot with a vision I hold in my head, so I look forward to constructing rather than sketching designs.

LAarts: What advice do you have for aspiring designers?

Morales: The best advice I can give for aspiring fashion designers is to take risks in your designs and connect yourselves with the right people that will help you move forward as a designer.

Morales has several accomplishments under her belt, some business and some academic. Her first accomplishment as a designer was setting the business platform for herself. Starting off with some help from her boyfriend (who assisted with the website, logo, Facebook page, flyer, banner, etc. ), she recently participated in a fashion show in September at 333 LIVE, and L.A.’s Summer Runway Preview  and a photo shoot (some of the photos are available here) all made possible with the support and collaboration of friends, family, and colleagues.

Her passion for creating quality, unique clothing with love and precision make Morales more than just a fashion designer; she’s an artist and friend in the field of designing.

Staff writer, Dee B Williams

**All photos were photographed by and belong to Eriq Stroy. All make-up for photos were done by Cindy Garcia.

Visit www.pluricious.com if you’d like to contact Jessica or are interested in her clothing.

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